Michael Timothy Abrahams (born 7 April 1943) is an English guitarist and band leader, best known for being the original guitarist for Jethro Tull from 1967 to 1968 and the frontman for Blodwyn Pig.[1]
Jethro Tull
Abrahams was born in Luton, Bedfordshire.[1] He played on the album This Was recorded by Jethro Tull in 1968, but conflicts between Abrahams and Ian Anderson over the musical direction of the band led Abrahams to leave shortly after the album was finished, but not before contributing guitar to one further non-LP single. Abrahams wanted to pursue a more blues/rock direction, while Anderson wanted to incorporate more overt folk and jazz influences.[2]
Blodwyn Pig and later career
Abrahams went on to found Blodwyn Pig, and the group recorded two albums, Ahead Rings Out (1969) and Getting to This (1970), before breaking up in 1970. Abrahams soldiered on with the short-lived Wommett, then the Mick Abrahams Band, and he has continued to release albums by himself and with reunited versions of Blodwyn Pig. He has worked as a driver, lifeguard, and financial consultant, occasionally playing gigs, especially to support causes in Dunstable, Bedfordshire.[3]
Abrahams suffered a heart attack in November 2009 and took time to recuperate before resuming work.[4] In April 2010, his website revealed that he had Ménière's disease, which would hold him back from performing at least for another year. In December 2013, he posted an update referring to his continuing health problems and mentioning that he hoped to release an album in 2014.
In 2015, Abrahams announced a new studio album called Revived!, with several guests–among them Martin Barre, his replacement in Jethro Tull.[5]
1999 Live at the Fillmore West: 3 August 1970 (Bootleg)
1999 On Air: Rare Singles & Radio Sessions 1969–1989 (Bootleg)
2000 The Basement Tapes
2002 Live at the Marquee Club London 1974 (Official Bootleg)
2003 Rough Gems (Official Bootleg No.2)
2012 Radio Sessions '69 to '71
Mick Abrahams Band
1971 Mick Abrahams (recorded with the Mick Abrahams Band, but credited just to Mick Abrahams. (Early LPs mention "Band" on the label.) It is commonly referred to as A Musical Evening with The Mick Abrahams Band as there is a poster saying this on the left side of the cover picture) (Chrysalis Records)]
1972 At Last (Chrysalis Records)
1997 Live in Madrid
2008 Amongst Vikings
Solo
1971 Mick Abrahams (recorded with the Mick Abrahams Band, but credited just to Mick Abrahams) (Chrysalis Records)
1975 Have Fun Learning The Guitar with Mick Abrahams
1991 All Said And Done
1996 Mick's Back
1996 One
2000 Novox (Instrumental)
2000 The Very Best of ABY (Compilation)
2001 Music to the Play 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
2001 This Was the First Album of Jethro Tull
2002 The Best of ABY Vol.2
2002 How Many Times (With Sharon Watson)
2003 Can't Stop Now
2005 Back with the Blues Again
2005 Leaving Home Blues
2008 65... The Music
2013 Hoochie Coochie Man – Lost studio album – Secret Records
2015 Revived!
Reformed Blodwyn Pigs
1993 Lies
1995 All Tore Down – Live
1996 Pig in the Middle
2000 See My Way
2004 All Said and Done
2005 Pigthology
2011 Times Have Changed (Reissue of Lies)
2013 Cat Squirrel Blues
This Was Band
2001 This Is (Live)
Collaborations
1971 : El Pea – Various Artists, Mick plays on "Greyhound Bus", the last song on the album.
2007 : Beggar's Farm – Itullians, Italian Jethro Tull Tribute band. With Bernardo Lanzetti ex-PFM and ex-Aqua Fragile, ex-Jethro Tull members Jonathan Noyce on bass and Clive Bunker on drums.
Freemasonry
Mick Abrahams is a Freemason and a member of the Chelsea Lodge No 3098, the lodge for members of the entertainment industry. He mentions this in some detail in his autobiography, What Is A Wommett?[6]
